Chapter 411

Morning light streamed through the Colby mansion, gilding the long windows and chasing the shadows of the night before. The household bustled again—maids polishing silver, the cook clattering in the kitchen, Alex giving instructions with his usual calm authority. On the surface, everything was normal.

But upstairs, eight children carried a secret.

Jayden closed the bedroom door behind them, his voice dropping as soon as the latch clicked. “We can’t tell Mommy. Not yet.”

The others sat in a circle on the floor, pajamas rumpled, hair tangled from sleep. Their eyes were still heavy, but beneath them glowed determination.

“What did Alex mean—‘either way’?” Audrey whispered, hugging her knees. “Either way what?”

Silence followed, thick and uneasy. Jayden didn’t answer, because repeating those words out lo